him　at　the　first　attempt　he　made　to　remove　the　knapsack　from　his
  shoulders。　〃No；〃　she　said；　gently；　〃in　the　good　old　times　there
  were　occasions　when　the　ladies　unarmed　their　knights。　I　claim　the
  privilege　of　unarming　_my_　knight。〃　Her　dexterous　fingers
  intercepted　his　at　the　straps　and　buckles；　and　she　had　the　dusty
  knapsack　off；　before　he　could　protest　against　her　touching　it。
  They　sat　down　at　the　one　little　table　in　the　room。　It　was　very
  poorly　furnished；　but　there　was　something　of　the　dainty　neatness
  of　the　woman　who　inhabited　it　in　the　arrangement　of　the　few　poor
  ornaments　on　the　chimney…piece；　in　the　one　or　two　prettily　bound
  volumes　on　the　chiffonier；　in　the　flowers　on　the　table；　and　the
  modest　little　work…basket　in　the　window。　〃Women　are　not　all
  coquettes；〃　she　said；　as　she　took　off　her　bonnet　and　mantilla；
  and　laid　them　carefully　on　a　chair。　〃I　won't　go　into　my　room；　and
  look　in　my　glass；　and　make　myself　smart；　you　shall　take　me　just
  as　I　am。〃　Her　hands　moved　about　among　the　tea…things　with　a
  smooth；　noiseless　activity。
  Her　magnificent　hair　flashed　crimson　in　the　candle…light；　as　she
  turned　her　head　hither　and　thither；　searching　with　an　easy　grace
  for　the　things　she　wanted　in　the　tray。　Exercise　had　heightened
  the　brilliancy　of　her　complexion；　and　had　quickened　the　rapid
  alternations　of　expression　in　her　eyesthe　delicious　languor
  that　stole　over　them　when　she　was　listening　or　thinking；　the
  bright　intelligence　that　flashed　from　them　softly　when　she　spoke。
  In　the　lightest　word　she　said；　in　the　least　thing　she　did；　there
  was　something　that　gently　solicited　the　heart　of　the　man　who　sat
  with　her。　Perfectly　modest　in　her　manner；　possessed　to　perfection
  of　the　graceful　restraints　and　refinements　of　a　lady；　she　had　all
  the　allurements　that　feast　the　eye；　all　the　siren　invitations
  that　seduce　the　sensea　subtle　suggestiveness　in　her　silence；
  and　a　sexual　sorcery　in　her　smile。
  〃Should　I　be　wrong；〃　she　asked；　suddenly　suspending　the
  conversation　which　she　had　thus　far　persistently　restricted　to
  the　subject　of　Midwinter's　walking　tour；　〃if　I　g　uessed　that　you
  have　something　on　your　mindsomething　which　neither　my　tea　nor
  my　talk　can　charm　away？　Are　men　as　curious　as　women？　Is　the
  somethingMe？〃
  Midwinter　struggled　against　the　fascination　of　looking　at　her　and
  listening　to　her。　〃I　am　very　anxious　to　hear　what　has　happened
  since　I　have　been　away；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　am　still　more　anxious；
  Miss　Gwilt；　not　to　distress　you　by　speaking　of　a　painful
  subject。〃
  She　looked　at　him　gratefully。　〃It　is　for　your　sake　that　I　have
  avoided　the　painful　subject；〃　she　said；　toying　with　her　spoon
  among　the　dregs　in　her　empty　cup。　〃But　you　will　hear　about　it
  from　others；　if　you　don't　hear　about　it　from　me；　and　you　ought　to
  know　why　you　found　me　in　that　strange　situation；　and　why　you　see
  me　here。　Pray　remember　one　thing；　to　begin　with。　I　don't　blame
  your　friend；　Mr。　Armadale。　I　blame　the　people　whose　instrument　he
  is。〃
  Midwinter　started。　〃Is　it　possible；〃　he　began；　〃that　Allan　can　be
  in　any　way　answerable？〃　He　stopped；　and　looked　at　Miss　Gwilt　in
  silent　astonishment。
  She　gently　laid　her　hand　on　his。　〃Don't　be　angry　with　me　for　only
  telling　the　truth；〃　she　said。　〃Your　friend　is　answerable　for
  everything　that　has　happened　to　meinnocently　answerable；　Mr。
  Midwinter；　I　firmly　believe。　We　are　both　victims。　_He_　is　the
  victim　of　his　position　as　the　richest　single　man　in　the
  neighborhood；　and　I　am　the　victim　of　Miss　Milroy's　determination
  to　marry　him。〃
  〃Miss　Milroy？〃　repeated　Midwinter；　more　and　more　astonished。
  〃Why；　Allan　himself　told　me〃　He　stopped　again。
  〃He　told　you　that　I　was　the　object　of　his　admiration？　Poor
  fellow；　he　admires　everybody；　his　head　is　almost　as　empty　as
  this；〃　said　Miss　Gwilt；　smiling　indicatively　into　the　hollow　of
  her　cup。　She　dropped　the　spoon；　sighed；　and　became　serious　again。
  〃I　am　guilty　of　the　vanity　of　having　let　him　admire　me；〃　she　went
  on；　penitently；　〃without　the　excuse　of　being　able；　on　my　side；　to
  reciprocate　even　the　passing　interest　that　he　felt　in　me。　I　don't
  undervalue　his　many　admirable　qualities；　or　the　excellent
  position　he　can　offer　to　his　wife。　But　a　woman's　heart　is　not　to
  be　commandedno；　Mr。　Midwinter；　not　even　by　the　fortunate　master
  of　Thorpe　Ambrose；　who　commands　everything　else。〃
  She　looked　him　full　in　the　face　as　she　uttered　that　magnanimous
  sentiment。　His　eyes　dropped　before　hers；　and　his　dark　color
  deepened。　He　had　felt　his　heart　leap　in　him　at　the　declaration　of
  her　indifference　to　Allan。　For　the　first　time　since　they　had
  known　each　other；　his　interests　now　stood　self…revealed　before
  him　as　openly　adverse　to　the　interests　of　his　friend。
  〃I　have　been　guilty　of　the　vanity　of　letting　Mr。　Armadale　admire
  me；　and　I　have　suffered　for　it；〃　resumed　Miss　Gwilt。　〃If　there
  had　been　any　confidence　between　my　pupil　and　me；　I　might　have
  easily　satisfied　her　that　she　might　become　Mrs。　Armadaleif　she
  couldwithout　having　any　rivalry　to　fear　on　my　part。　But　Miss
  Milroy　disliked　and　distrusted　me　from　the　first。　She　took　her
  own　jealous　view；　no　doubt；　of　Mr。　Armadale's　thoughtless
  attentions　to　me。　It　was　her　interest　to　destroy　the　position；
  such　as　it　was；　that　I　held　in　his　estimation；　and　it　is　quite
  likely　her　mother　assisted　her。　Mrs。　Milroy　had　her　motive　also
  （which　I　am　really　ashamed　to　mention）　for　wishing　to　drive　me
  out　of　the　house。　Anyhow；　the　conspiracy　has　succeeded。　I　have
  been　forced　（with　Mr。　Armadale's　help）　to　leave　the　major's
  service。　Don't　be　angry；　Mr。　Midwinter！　Don't　form　a　hasty
  opinion！　I　dare　say　Miss　Milroy　has　some　good　qualities；　though　I
  have　not　found　them　out；　and　I　assure　you　again　and　again　that　I
  don't　blame　Mr。　Armadale。　I　only　blame　the　people　whose
  instrument　he　is。〃
  〃How　is　he　their　instrument？　How　can　he　be　the　instrument　of　any
  enemy　of　yours？〃　asked　Midwinter。　〃Pray　excuse　my　anxiety；　Miss
  Gwilt：　Allan's　good　name　is　as　dear　to　me　as　my　own！〃
  Miss　Gwilt's　eyes　turned　full　on　him　again；　and　Miss　Gwilt's
  heart　abandoned　itself　innocently　to　an　outburst　of　enthusiasm。
  〃How　I　admire　your　earnestness！〃　she　said。　〃How　I　like　your
  anxiety　for　your　friend！　Oh；　if　women　could　only　form　such
  friendships！　Oh　you　happy；　happy　men！〃　Her　voice　faltered；　and
  her　convenient　tea…cup　absorbed　her　for　the　third　time。　〃　I　would
  give　all　the　little　beauty　I　possess；〃　she　said；　〃if　I　could　only
  find　such　a　friend　as　Mr。　Armadale　has　found　in　_you。_　I　never
  shall；　Mr。　MidwinterI　never　shall。　Let　us　go　back　to　what　we
  were　talking　about。　I　can　only　tell　you　how　your　friend　is
  concerned　in　my　misfortune　by　telling　you　something　first　about
  myself。　I　am　like　many　other　governesses；　I　am　the　victim　of　sad
  domestic　circumstances。　It　may　be　weak　of　me；　but　I　have　a　horror
  of　alluding　to　them　among　strangers。　My　silence　about　my　family
  and　my　friends　exposes　me　to　misinterpretation　in　my　dependent
  position。　Does　it　do　me　any　harm；　Mr。　Midwinter；　in　your
  estimation？〃
  〃God　forbid！〃　said　Midwinter；　fervently。　〃There　is　no　man
  living；〃　he　went　on；　thinking　of　his　own　family　story；　〃who　has
  better　reason　to　understand　and　respect　your　silence　than　I
  have。〃
  Miss　Gwilt　seized　his　hand　impulsively。　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃I　knew
  it；　the　first　moment　I　saw　you！　I　knew　that　you；　too；　had
  suffered；　that　you；　too；　had　sorrows　which　you　kept　sacred！
  Strange；　strange　sympathy！　I　believe　in　mesmerismdo　you？〃　She
  suddenly　recollected　herself；　and　shuddered。　〃Oh；　what　have　I
  done？　What　must　you　think　of　me？〃　she　exclaimed；　as　he　yielded　to
  the　magnetic　fascination　of　her　touch；　and；　forgetting　everything
  but　the　hand　that　lay　warm　in　his　own；　bent　over　it　and　kissed
  it。　〃Spare　me！〃　she　said；　faintly；　as　she　felt　the　burning　touch
  of　his　lips。　〃I　am　so　friendlessI　am　so　completely　at　your
  mercy！〃
  He　turned　away　from　her；　and　hid　his　face　in　his　hands；　he　was
  trembling；　and　she　saw　it。　She　looked　at　him　while　his　face　was
  hidden　from　her；　she　looked　at　him　with　a　furtive　interest　and
  surprise。　〃How　that　man　loves　me！〃　she　thought。　〃I　wonder　whether
  there　was　a　time　when　I　might　have　loved　_him？_〃
  The　silence　between　them　remained　unbroken　for　some　minutes。　He
  had　felt　her　appeal　to　his　consideration　as　she　had　never
  expected　or　intended　him　to　feel　ithe　shrank　from　looking　at
  her　or　from　speaking　to　her　again。
  〃Shall　I　go　on　with　my　story？〃　she　asked。　〃Shall　we　forget　and
  forgive　on　both　sides？〃　A　woman's　inveterate　indulgence　for　every
  expression　of　a　man's　admiration　which　keeps　within　the　limits　of
  personal　respect　curved　her　lips　gently　into　a　charming　smile。
  She　looked　down　meditatively　at　her　dress；　and　brushed　a　crumb
  off　her　lap　with　a　little　flattering　sigh。　〃I　was　telling　you；〃
  she　went　on；　〃of　my　reluctance　to　speak　to　strangers　of　my　sad
  family　story。　It　was　in　that　way；　as　I　afterward　found　out；　that
  I　laid　myself　open　to　Miss　Milroy's　malice　and　Miss　Milroy's
  suspicion。　Private　inquiries　about　me　were　addressed　to　the　lady
  who　was　my　referenceat　Miss　Milroy's　suggestion；　in　the　first
  instance；　I　have　no　doubt。　I　am　sorry　to　say；　this　is　not　the
  worst　of　it。　By　some　underhand　means；　of　which　I　am　quite
  ignorant；　Mr。　Armadale's　simplicity　was　imposed　on；